do primary schools use sat tests in non-sat years?

[hatwoman]

I'm confused by our parents' evening. the teacher told us they had just done "levelled" tests. and told us what dd had got. dd is in year 3 - so I'm really not sure what the teacher's on about. do they use the same tests as they would for year 2 kids? or year 6? the way these levels work makes it sound like they have one test for all ages - which surely doesn't make any sense?

[MsRosaIsBitter]

There are optional tests that the school can choose to give at the end of each school year - they are designed specifically for each year group. The information is used to keep track of how the children are progressing between year 2 and year 6. Our school does this and it is helpful in making sure that children are making progress and not falling behind.

[hatwoman]

aha - that makes sense then. thanks.

[Olihan]

They are papers that are specifially written for each year group, known as 'interim SATs'. They have a mark scheme and the levels are given using the same criteria as proper SATs.

The levels are continuous throughout KS1, 2 & 3 - the average is level 4 by the end of Year 6 but obviously some children will be there in Y4 and some won't get there until Y8.

The levels are further divided into a,b,c so it goes 1c, 1b, 1a, 2c, 2b, 2a, 3c........etc. The target is usually for a child to go up 2 'notches' in a year so 1a up to 2b, for example. It supposedly gives an prediction of how the child will perform in the Y6 SATs but it's not particulaely accurate or effective, tbh.

[hatwoman]

that's interesting olihan - about aiming to go up 2 notches. thanks. the problem is they fire this stuff at you and you sit there with a gormless expression on your face and then you get home and realise you have no idea what they said. in terms of marks anyway - which, i fully appreciate, matter little.

[MsRosaIsBitter]

It isn't necessarily an even progress either Hatwoman. Your DC might get 2b in Year Two, be on 2a at end of Year Three and jump to 3a by end Year Four for instance. Depends on how secure they were on the level they attained the previous year. The writing SATs in particular can vary a lot depending on whether the particular task plays to their strengths or not.